July 2012 I started to look for a guitar or banjo. By Aug. I sent out a request to my family ( my wife and my 3 grown children).

I wanted a six string banjo for Christmas. That was the only item I wanted.

They all kept a secret. My wife kept asking me if wanted anything else. I said, NO. She mention to me what happens there is nothing under tree for you. So I made a small list.

Since Jan. 2013 I have been Practicing. I am 64 retired and watch my granddaughter. I have a lot of time to learn.

I know the basic cords and can pick.

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Most Liked Negative Review

Shipping Problem

The Banjo was purchased as a gift.

I was disappointed when I recieved the product.When it arrived, it looked like the Banjo was sold to another person, returned and...Read complete review

The Banjo was purchased as a gift.

I was disappointed when I recieved the product.When it arrived, it looked like the Banjo was sold to another person, returned and resold to myself. The box had been opened, the hardware was not in the shipping bag and was bouncing around in the box. Some of the screws that hold the drum to the banjo were not fastened and were also boucing around the box.I called Musicians Friend the day I recieved the Banjo and spoke with Dale. He was very helpful.Dale explained the 45 day return deal that your company offers. I have not decided If I want to return the Banjo or keep it. My daughters instructor is currently checking out the unit.Needless to say, I am not satisfied with the condition I recieved the banjo. It should have been thoroughly inspected before being shipped.

This is a great instrument for a guitar player! But don't buy the hype of NO learning curve - If'n ya want it to sound good like a banjo should. But yes very easy for the experienced guitar player.

I've been playing guitar since rotary dial wall phones and for many years a couple times a week in public. The quality level of this instrument for this price point is excellent. Some day when there is world peace, hell freezes over and they abolish the IRS, musicians will realize you got to pay for detailed factory set up to be done on an instrument. If you want beautiful action out of the box, polished fret ends, etc. you got to pay for it. Yup we gots all kinds of foreign mass produced instruments but we got them - back in the day it was a big deal to scrounge up enough dead presidents to get an axe. yea and reuse strings :) The Dean Backwoods Banjo makes banjo playing a reality for us who are sqeezin nickels, and allows the guitar player to quickly learn Banjo. Yes I am going to lower the action and change strings no big deal then I have it where I want it :)

Point is: the Dean Backwoods 6 Banjo is great bang for your buck - get it

Wow! This is NOT a "guitanjo" or whatever people like to call these. It's truly a six string banjo tuned like a guitar. I was struggling on stage switching from guitar to banjo and back during songs. (brain needed extra time to re-think chord shapes lol!) This is the trick! Pick up the Dean, play just like the guitar only it has wonderful banjo tone! Great for back up rhythym but does decent (not super great) on lead stuff....mainly quick turn around licks and the like. I was slightly hesitant but wanted to try this out and for the price I figured it was worth a shot. I am really glad I purchased this, the build quality is good (not top of the line build but definitley NOT cheaply done either). The tone is great and honestly it's very pretty! It really filled a niche I needed filled and it does it well. I recorded with it in the lead and no one knows I'm not playing a 5 string regular banjo. Well worth the price! Mine by the way was a "second" or used and returned. I can't find any issue with it.

I sent this back because the fret-board stain had run causing unsightly streaks. The Dean logo on the fret-board was not applied well and a third of the bird's wing was missing. I agonized over returning it but decided I did not want a new instrument that had these flaws. The bridge did not work properly, the 6th string kept falling out. This can be fixed but I did not want to cut into an item that I was considering returning. Sound was okay, strings were high but played okay. (That is also adjustable) As I was getting together the return information and phone number I got an email which said that the instrument I wanted but had cost too much money was now on sale so I ordered that one. Note that I had already made the decision to return the instrument BEFORE I saw the new sale price. As another note, this instrument fits snugly into my standard banjo hard case sold by MF.

I purchased this for a specific show that required banjo flavor, and I am not a banjo player. So far, so good. Not crazy about the low tones, will change out some strings, but I also understand it's not going to sound exactly like a banjo.

I already reviewed this many months ago. It met my needs when I bought it, but the single-piece flange/pot construction keeps me from using it "backless," which I would like to do for some kinds of music. After buying this one, I learned that the black one with the pickup has a separate wooden pot, so I can take the back off that one without turning it into a deadly weapon. BTW, the humbucker pickup on the upgrade model isn't that important to me - I put an inexpensive piezo on this one and it works fine. Still I'm thinking about trading this one in on the upgrade model. If you're still shopping, you won't be disappointed with either banjo, but I would recommend considering the upgrade - it is a better banjo (not just cooler looking).

It sounded pretty good as soon as I tuned it up. Then I tightened the head some and put a .012 on the bass E and put a wound .022 on the A string-then WOW! I usually do a lot of bass runs on guitar using the fifth and sixth strings. Those runs are suprising on treble strings. It has been more fun than I have had in a while. And every guitar player that I have shown it to has been just giddy playing it. MF should offer a conversion string pack for the fifth and sixth string with LOOP ENDS. It was tricky getting the brass out of the loops. Still fun.

Got this as a surprise from my wife and was very excited about it at first glance. Had difficulty with it staying in tune even with my tuner. Brought it to a friend who has exact one also and he said the same thing. He has trouble keeping is in tune also.